The beta versions of iOS 18.4 and tvOS 18.4 are now live, showcasing a few minor yet noteworthy enhancements for the Apple TV app. Here are three appealing updates that will soon be available for your iPhone, Apple TV 4K, and more.
UI updates enhance TV app visibility in iOS 18.4
The Apple TV app is likely experiencing a surge in usage, primarily due to the success of Severance, which has become the most-watched Apple TV+ show ever in its current season.
Although the public release of iOS 18.4 and tvOS 18.4 is not anticipated until after the conclusion of Severance’s season, Apple is rolling out a few minor but beneficial updates within these releases.
The revamped TV app will introduce three key features:
- Enhanced plus button on highlighted titles
- Clear episode release schedule information
- Revamped fonts and icons
While these are primarily UI improvements, my experiences with the beta indicate that they significantly enhance the user experience.
Overview of the TV app improvements
For instance, consider the updated plus button on featured titles. In the TV app’s main view, there is now a dynamic carousel highlighting various TV shows and films to explore.
In the current iOS 18.3 version, a small plus button is located in the top-right corner for adding titles to your Watchlist. In the upcoming iOS 18.4 version, the button has been considerably enlarged and repositioned to a more noticeable location beside the Play button.
Moreover, for ongoing shows that are releasing new episodes, iOS 18.4 makes the release schedule much more prominent than before.
Previously, the app displayed some text underneath the show’s title, which occasionally included information about new episode release dates.
In iOS 18.4, this information has been elevated, now highlighted above the title in its own distinct banner. For example, with Apple’s medical drama “Berlin ER,” viewers will now see ‘New Episodes Wednesdays’ positioned above the title.
Lastly, the TV app has undergone a refresh of its fonts and icons throughout the interface. New icons have been introduced for the Movies Spotlight and Sports sections, and the overall typography has been updated, providing a modern, yet recognizable appearance.
While these modifications may not be groundbreaking, they represent valuable incremental upgrades aimed at enriching the overall app experience.
Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 monthly, featuring popular series and films such as Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.
